Electric-lighting system for cars.



PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

H. KREUSLER. ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR CARS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,094, dated August30, 1904.

Application tiled November 28, 1903. Serial No. 182,985. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN KREUsLER, .a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric- Lighting Systems for Cars, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an electric-lighting system for cars, and hasparticular reference to an arrangement for supplying current to theelectric lamps even if the current-taking device, such as the customarytrolley, should temporarily become disconnected from the source ofelectric current-as, for instance, the overhead wire.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of theabove-indicated class in which one and the same set of lamps will belighted either by the main current under normal conditions or by anauxiliary generator or current-supply in case the connection of thelamps with the main current or powercircuit is interrupted.

I will now describe my invention in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features in theappended claims.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of my improved electric-lighting system,and Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the switches employed in saidsystem.

A indicates the conductor from which the power-current is taken-as, forinstance, an overhead wire or a third rail.

B indicates the return-conductor or ground connection formed, forinstance, by the trackrails.

O is the current-taking device-for instance, a trolley mounted on a poleO'. The main portion of the current passes through the motors of the carin the usual way. A shuntwire D connects the current-taking device withlamps T, connected in series or in any other suitable manner. This wireD leads to a terminal D', adapted to be engaged by one arm E' of aswitch E, which is pivoted to terminals E3 EL. The switch-arm E' when inengagement with the terminal D' also engages a terminal F', from whichawire F leads to a E' E2 are adapted to swing.

coil or solenoid F2 and then to the return-conductor or groundconnection B-for instance, by connecting said wire F with the car-wheelG. Thus when the lamps T are lighted by the current shunted fromv thepower or motor circuit the solenoid F2 will be energized so as to pullits core H into the position shown in Fig. l. This core carries twocircuit-closing plates H' and H2, which are insulated from each other.The circuit-closer H' is adapted for contact with terminals I and I',one of which is connected by a wire I2 to a brush I3 of amotor-generator J. The same terminal I' is connected by a wire I* withthe shuntcoil K of the motor-generator, and the other terminal, I, isconnected bya wire I5 with one pole of a storage battery L. From theother end of the shunt-coil K a wire K' leads to the brush J' of themotor-generator J. The other pole of the storage batteryL is connectedby a wire M with the terminal E4. The switcharm E2 when in the positionillustrated by Fig. l engages a terminal N', Afrom which a wire N leadsto the series coil O of the motorgenerator, which series coil is alsoconnected with the wire K'. From this wire K' a branch wire K2 leads toa terminal K3, adapted to be engaged by the switch-arm E2 when theswitch is thrown into its upper position. In this position theswitch-arm E' will engage a terminalP', from which a wire P leads to theground or return wire-for instance, by connecting said wire P with thewire F at a point between the solenoid F2 and the conductor B.

The terminals D', F', N', K3, and I" may be of the usual kind,consisting of two elastic metallic blades between which the switch-armsAs shown in Fig. 2, the terminal K3 is made longer than the terminal P',so that in throwing the switch E into the upper position contact willbcmade between E2 and K3 before contact is made between E' and IJ'. Theterminal E3 is connected by a wireQ with the brush J2 of themotor-generator J. The fourth brush J 3 of this motorgenerator isconnectedby a wire R with a terminal R', adapted to be engaged by thecircuit-closer H2. This circuit closer is also adapted to engage anotherterminal S', from which a wire S leads to the trolley-pole (.l'.

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A rheostat or starting resistance U may be inserted in the wire P.

2 conductor B. The armature H will therefore be attracted into thesolenoid, so as to separate the circuit-closers H' H2 from the terminalswhich they are adapted to engage. In case the trolley C should slip offthe wire or conductor A or if for any other reason the main current orpower-current should cease to flow the core H will no longer be held upby the solenoid F2 and the circuit-closers H' H2 will drop on theirrespective terminals. The circuit-closer H' will then close thefollowing circuit of the storage battery L: the battery L, wire M,terminal E', switch-arm E2, terminal N', wire N, series coil O, wire K',brush J', brush I3, wire I2, terminal I', circuitcloser H', terminal I,and Wires I2 I5. A portion'of the current will also flow through theshunt-coil K. That portion of the motorgenerator which is connected withthe brushes J' I3 will now act as a motor for the other portion of themotor-generator connected with the brushes J2 J 3,'which other portionin this case is a generator. It will be understood that themotor-generator is so wound that the current delivered at the brushes J2J 3 will in this case be practically of the same voltage as the current,which under normal conditions is furnished to the lamps T by the shuntfrom the power-circuit. The current from the generator will flow asfollows: brush J2, wire Q, terminal E', switch-arm E', terminal D', wireD, lamps T, wire S, terminal S', circuit-closerl H2, terminal R', wireR, and brush J 3. Therefore as long as the power-current fails thestorage battery L will drive the motor-generator to supply an auxiliarycurrent to the lamps T, these lamps being the same as those which arenormally lighted by the current shunted from the power-circuit. As soonas the power-current againiiows through the lamps T the solenoid F2 willbe energized, causing the circuit-closers H' H2 to rise, so as to cutout the storage battery L. It will therefore be understood that undernormal conditions the motor-generator J is inactive and stationary.

The connections for the upper position of the switch E have beenprovided for the purpose of charging the storage battery L in thefollowing manner: Assuming the switch to be in its upper position, thesolenoid F2 will of course be disconnected from the circuit, and thecircuit-closers H' H2 will therefore rest on their terminals. Theshunt-current from the power-circuit will therefore flow as follows:conductor A, trolley C, pole C', wire S, terminal S', circuit-closer H2,terminal R',

wire R, brush J2, brush J2, wire Q, terminal E3, switch-arm E', terminalP', wire P, and wire F, to return conductor B or ground. That portion ofthe motor-generator which is connected with the brushes J2 J 3 willtherefore in this case act as a motor and drive the other portion whichis connected with the brushes J' I3, which other portion in this casebecomes a generator. The current supplied by this generator will flow asfollows: brush J', wire K',wire K2, terminal K3, switcharm F12, terminalE2, wire IWI, storage battery L, wire I5, terminal I, circuit-closer H',terminal I', wire I2, and brush I3. A portion of the current will alsopass through the shuntcoil K, keeping it energized. The remainder of thecurrent will flow through the battery L and charge it. The initialenergizing of the shunt-coil K is brought about by the current from thebattery L as soon as the switcharm E2 touches the terminal K2. Sincethis contact loccurs before the switch arm E' touches the terminal P',it follows that the shunt-coil K will already be energized when thecurrent shunted from the power-circuit begins to flow to the motorgenerator J through the brushes J2 J 3. 'However, it is not absolutelynecessary that the contact at K3 be made before that at P'. The startingresistance or rheostat U may be dispensed with. Its purpose is tofacilitate starting the motor-generator whenv it is `used for chargingthe battery L.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the nature ofmy invention.

Some features of my invention are not restricted to the inclusion of thesame set of lamps both in the main circuit and in the auxiliarylighting-circuit.

While intended specially for lighting cars, my invention is applicablewherever it is desired to guard against darkness in case the maincurrent fails.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In anelectriclighting system, a main lighting-circuit, a lamp or lampstherein, an auxiliary lighting-circuit which also includes said lamp orlamps, a motor-generator, the generator-section of which is in saidauxiliary circuit, a source of electricity in circuit with themotor-section of the motorgenerator, and a circuit-closer, controlled bythe flow of the current through the main circuit, for completing theauxiliary lighting-circuit and the circuit of said motor-section whenthe current fails in the main circuit.

2. In an electric -lighting system, a main lighting-circuit, anauxiliary lighting-circuit, a motor-generator, the generator-section ofwhich is in the auxiliary lighting circuit, a

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source of electricity in circuit with the motorthrough the main circuit,for completing the auxiliary lighting-circuit and the circuit of thesaid motor-section when the current'fails in the main circuit.

3. In an electric-lighting system, a main lighting-circuit, an auxiliarylighting-circuit, a motor-generator, one section of which is in saidauxiliary lighting-circuit, a storage battery in circuit with the othersection of the motor-generator, a circuit-closer, controlled by the flowof current through the main circuit, for completing the circuits throughboth sections of the motor-generator When vno current passes through thelighting-circuit, and a switch for reversing the functions of thesections so that the said motor generator may either be driven by saidsource of electricity and supply current to the auxiliarylightingcircuit, or be driven from the main circuit and supply currentto charge the storage battery.

4. In an electric-lighting system, a mainv circuit for normallysupplying light, amotor' generator for supplying light When the maincircuit fails, astorage battery for driving said motor-generator, acircuit-closer, controlled by the flow of current through the mainlightauxiliary lighting-circuit, a motor for said generator, a source ofelectricity in circuit with said motor, land means 'for closing themotorcircuit simultaneously with the auxiliary lighting-circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HER-MAN KREUSLER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN Lorna, EUGENE EBLE.

